Which tool would you use to identify the most-likely cause of a quality problem?

The Pareto chart is an effective tool for identifying the most likely cause of a quality problem due to its ability to visually represent data in a way that highlights the most significant issues. By displaying the frequency or impact of problems in descending order, the Pareto chart allows teams to quickly see which factors contribute most to the overall issue, often illustrating the 80/20 rule, where a small number of causes are responsible for a large percentage of the problems. This prioritization helps focus efforts on addressing the most impactful quality issue first, leading to more effective problem-solving.

In contrast, the other tools mentioned, while useful in various contexts, do not specifically target identifying the most likely cause as effectively as the Pareto chart. PDCA analysis is more of a broader cycle for continuous improvement, while the Ishikawa cause-and-effect diagram focuses on categorizing potential causes of problems rather than prioritizing them. Brainstorming sessions generate a wide range of ideas and potential causes but do not provide a clear visual representation of data to identify the most significant issue.